Eupeodes americanus

American hoverfly
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Syrphidae
Subfamily:	Syrphinae
Tribe:	Syrphini
Genus:	Eupeodes
Species:	E. americanus
Binomial name
	Eupeodes americanus; Wiedemann, 1830
Synonyms
	Syrphus americanus Wiedemann, 1830; Syrphus canadensis Curran, 1926; Syrphus lebanoensis Fluke, 1930; Syrphus medius Jones, 1917; Syrphus wiedemanni Johnson, 1919;

Eupeodes americanus, the American hoverfly, is found throughout North America and inhabits meadows, and fields with flowers and foliage. Adults feed on nectar, whereas their larvae feed on aphids. The adult fly is black to metallic green, and has three yellow bands on its abdomen. Its face is a light yellow with large black compound eyes on either side, and its wings are clear; it is 9–12 mm in body length.[1] The larvae are mature at around 11 mm, and they are yellow-white to salmon brown, with markings of black and white or yellow-white. The lighter markings consist of a transverse rectangular bars on segments 6 to 11, and a narrow line along each side of the larvae. Early instars have visible black setae. The larvae are active feeders. They are being considered as suitable biological control agents for aphids and scale insects.[2]

Gallery

Larva
Puparium
Newly emerged adult male and puparium
Adult

References

Milne, Lorus; Margery Milne (2000). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-50763-0.
Bugg, Robert L.; Colfer, Ramy G.; Chaney, William E.; Cannon, James (2008). "Flower Flies (Syrphidae) and Other Biological Control Agents for Aphids in Vegetable Crops" (PDF Adobe Acobat). ANR Publication. Oakland, California: University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 8285: 1–25. Retrieved 2009-09-27.

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[Audubon-1] Milne, Lorus; Margery Milne (2000). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-50763-0.

[bugg-2] Bugg, Robert L.; Colfer, Ramy G.; Chaney, William E.; Cannon, James (2008). "Flower Flies (Syrphidae) and Other Biological Control Agents for Aphids in Vegetable Crops" (PDF Adobe Acobat). ANR Publication. Oakland, California: University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 8285: 1–25. Retrieved 2009-09-27.